Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-29
ELECTION ECHOES.
REPUBLICAN COUNCILNRN-BLECT CAUCUS
AT THE LINCOLN CLUB
Fhsy Announce Their Intention Of Putting None nui
Their Own PartSsns on Gsard
Over the Offices
The city election was the principal topic

of conversation yesterday all over the city.
Both narties had reason tofeel happy over
the result of the balloting, but the RepuD-
Tcans were especially jubilant over having
canture6 Council, and numbers OF them
were going about during the day, proclaim
ing the martyrs policy for the next TWO
wears. the first clause of the verbal man
iEesto being the displacement OF every
Democrat now holding an office within the
Gift of Council. There was to be clean
sweep. they said, and heads were to TALL
right and left as soon as the two Branches
should be organized. ltwas pointed out
10 these gentlemen that this policy was at
variance with the Democratic method,
which party had allowed number OF good
offices to 90 Republicans while
controlling the last Council, and
also with the tenor Of numbers Of Lateti-
0,aeer editorials depfecating the intrusion
of partisan politics in municipal Affairs,
but,nothing could swerye the Jubilant anu
hungry Radicals from going on the war
path for Democratic official scalps, and a
call for Republican caucus of Councilmen
was hastily drawn upand circulated, every
member of that party, in each Branch,
signing it. The purpose Of this caucus, as
set forth in the call, was to select a Presl-
dent of the Second Branch and Clerk for
the First Branch, who IS er-C6fciO commit
tee clerk, and the place OF meeting was
designated rs the Lincoln Club.
Alta O'Clock, twenty-three Republican
members, being all the signers except Mr..
Schrebe, assembled in the club building,
together with number of party leaders
not belonging to Council. The meeting
organized by electing Mr.. f. Buchanan,
the hold-Oyer member Of the First Branch
from the Second ward, to the chair. Z. K.
Tracy, also of the First Branch and OF the
Second ward, was made Secretary.
The first thing done was TO make each
and every individual present sOlemnly
promise not to reveal anything pertaining
| to the nominations and elections before
the caucus, and this pledge exacted, at
/ tention was turned to the question OF
| whether or not the Second Branch mem
beers ought to participate with the FIRST
Branch in nominating Clerk OF the latter
/ Branch. Ii was finally agreed that, mas
much rs the Second Branch gentlemen
were interested, through the Clerk being
cr-ofiriO Committee Clerk, all present
should have a say in choosing candidate.
J. ID. ElsOn and at least one other
gentleman were named in connection with
the office, and vOteby ballot resulted IN
ElsOn receiving q majority. George r.
Irvine, a very clever and competent gen
tleman, is a candinate for the othce OF
Clerk, but the caucus arrangement knocks
him ont in the first round by blow be-
low the belt.
The caucus next turned its attention to
the matter of designating atime and place
for holding caucus for the nomination OF
candidates for the general city offices to
be filled at the first regular meeting OF the
new Council, and it was agreed to convene
mt the Lincoln Club Monday evening next
for such purpose.
This finished the proceedings OF the
Joint caucus, and it was dissolved, but the
Second Branch members were ut once
called together to agree upon Candidate
for President of that body. b. ). Allison
took the chair, and Otto Jaeger acted as
Secretary.
Several nominations were made for the
office to be filled, among them being H. NJ.
Gilleland and George h. Caldwell. Mr. Gll-
leland WAS chosen after n spirited contest,
and Mr.. Caldwell was selected to deliver
the nominating speech this afternoon.
This completed the business OF the meet
/ ing, but after adjourning the gentlemen
fingered long to gloat over their great good
fortune and discuss among themselves the
division of the spoils. -,
Both Branches of the new Council Will
meet this afternoon for organization, but
no business will he transacted outside oil
the election of President in the Second
/ Branch, and q Clerk in the First, unless
it be the approval of the official bonds oil
some OF the officers elected by the people.
The offices within the gift OF Council com
prise several fat plums, and the list Is
quite a long one. 1t is Is follows: Two
assessors, City Collector, two Clerks OF
the Markets, City Sexton, City Solicitor,
City Weigher, Health Officer, Keeper OF
the Lookup and his Assistant. Superln-
tendent of the City Prison and his guards
members of the Boards OF Public
Works, Gas Trustees, Water Com
missioners, and Fire Commissioners, Clerk
of the Police Court, and in addition, the
| body approves the selection OF the Deputy
Seryeants, Clerk of the Water Board, Clerk
of the Board OF Public Works, Superln-
| tendent of the tiaS Works, Secretary ot the
| Gas Board and two assistants, and Super
| intendent of Streets under the Board at
Public Works. The patronage controlled
BY these officials amounts to very large
sum, aud some of the salaries and per-
quisiteS are pretty large.
A was stated in yesterdays REGISTER,
candidates are rs thick rs tleas for all the
offices except City Receiver, where Id.
Runaway has the field to himself. The
big fight is for City Collector, there being
half dozen candidates, among them JAS.
Hanes, J. W. Warden, and George Bigelow'
Drs. Edwards, Mccoy and Reed are strug'
Cling for Health Officer, W. J. w. COwden
and William Erskine for City Solicitor. II
is all fixed that Captain Tom Bennett can
have the office of Superintendent OF Streets
if he wants it, and Joe ElsOn, having cap
tured the nomination for First Branch
Clerk, is now looking with ayariciOus eyes
toward the clerkship of the Board Of Pub
lie Works. The change in the Gas Board
does not 20 into effect until about next
September, 50 the aSpirantS for the Offices
under it are not hustling much rs yet, but
it WAS given out yesterday that eX-Superin
tendent Dillon would 90 back when the
time came. The Fire and Police BOart
members have about a year to serve.
The display of partisanship on the part
of the Republicans, in connection will
the IateliigeRceT'S brutal assault on Chic
of Police Smith, and its insulting rehec
tons upon osecitizens who voted for hin
in preference to Captain Thomas Bennett
called forth many unfayOrable comments
from conservative people yesterday. Th'
policy of the Republican Council grabbing
in hot haste for everything in sight wa
looked upon as forebOding no good to thu
city at large. 1t would bring partisan
ship to the front, and draw party line:
sharply in coming city elections, making
the offices merely the spOils Of party, to bt
filed by wire-pullers, ward politicians
and workers, instead of the Incumbent